Didache-The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles

1. There are two Ways: a Way of Life and a Way of Death, and the difference between these two Ways is great.

The Way of Life is this: "Thou shalt love first the Lord thy Creator, and secondly thy neighbour as thyself; and thou shalt do nothing to any man that thou wouldst not wish to be done to thyself."

What you may learn from these words is to bless them that curse you, to pray for your enemies, and to fast for your persecutors. For where is the merit in loving only those who return your love? Even the heathens do as much as that. But if you love those who hate you, you will have nobody to be your enemy.

Beware of the carnal appetites of the body. If someone strikes you on theright cheek, turn the other one to him as well, and perfection will beyours. Should anyone compel you to go a mile, go another one with him. Ifsomeone takes away your coat, let him have your shirt too. If someoneseizes anything belonging to you, do not ask for it back again (you couldnot get it, anyway). Give to everyone that asks, without looking for anyrepayment, for it is the Father's pleasure that we should share Hisgracious bounty with all men. A giver who gives freely, as the commandmentdirects, is blessed; no fault can be found with him. But woe to the taker;for though he cannot be blamed for taking if he was in need, yet if he wasnot, an account will be required of him as to why he took it, and for whatpurpose, and he will be taken into custody and examined about his action,and he will not get out until he has paid the last penny. The old sayingis in point here: "Let your alms grow damp with sweat in your hand, untilyou know who it is you are giving them to.

2. The second commandment in the Teaching means: Commit no murder,adultery, sodomy, fornication, or theft. Practise no magic, sorcery,abortion, or infanticide. See that you do not covet anything yourneighbour possesses, and never be guilty of perjury, false witness,slander, or malice. Do not equivocate in thought or speech, for a doubletongue is a deadly snare; the words you speak should not be false or emptyphrases, but fraught with purposeful action. You are not to be avariciousor extortionate, and you must resist any temptation to hypocrisy,spitefulness, or superiority. You are to have no malicious designs on aneighbour. You are to cherish no feelings of hatred for anybody; some youare to reprove, some to pray for, and some again to love more than yourown life.

3. Keep away from every bad man, my son, and from all his kind. Nevergive way to anger, for anger leads to homicide. Likewise refrain fromfanaticism, quarrelling, and hot-temperedness, for these too can breedhomicide.

Beware of lust, my son, for lust leads to fornication. Likewise refrainfrom unclean talk and the roving eye, for these too can breed adultery.

Do not be always looking for omens, my son, for this leads to idolatry.Likewise have nothing to do with witchcraft, astrology, or magic; do noteven consent to be a witness of such practices, for they too can all breedidolatry.

Tell no lies, my son, for lying leads to theft. Likewise do not beover-anxious to be rich or to be admired, for these too can breedthievishness.

Do not be a grumbler, my son, for this leads to blasphemy. Likewise donot be too opinionated, and do not harbour thoughts of wickedness, forthese too can breed blasphemy.

Learn to be meek, for the meek are to inherit the earth. School yourselfto forbearance, compassion, guilelessness, calmness, and goodness; andnever forget to respect the teaching you have had.

Do not parade your own merits, or allow yourself to behave presumptuously,and do not make a point of associating with persons of eminence, butchoose the companionship of honest and humble folk.

Accept as good whatever experience comes your way, in the knowledge thatnothing can happen without God.

4. By day and by night, my son, remember him who speaks the word of God toyou. Give him the honour you would give the Lord; for wherever the Lord'sattributes are the subject of discourse, there the Lord is present.Frequent the company of the saints daily, so as to be edified by theirconversation. Never encourage dissensions, but try to make peace betweenthose who are at variance. Judge with justice, reprove without fear orfavour, and never be in two minds about your decisions.

Do not be like those who reach out to take, but draw back when the timecomes for giving. If the labour of your hands has been productive, yourgiving will be a ransom for sins. Give without hesitating and withoutgrumbling, and you will see Whose generosity will requite you. Never turnaway the needy; share all your possessions with your brother, and do notclaim that anything is your own. If you and he are joint participators inthings immortal, how much more so in things that are mortal?

You are not to withhold your hand from your son or daughter, but to bringthem up in the fear of God from their childhood.

Never speak sharply when giving orders to male or female domestics whosetrust is in the same God as yours; otherwise they may cease to fear Himwho is over you both. He has not come to call men according to their rank,but those for whom He has prepared the Spirit. And you, servants, obeyyour masters with respectfulness and fear, as the representatives of God.Hate all impiety and everything that does not please the Lord. See thatyou do not neglect the commandments of the Lord, but keep them just as youreceived them, without any additions or subtractions of your own.

In church, make confession of your faults, and do not come to your prayerswith a bad conscience.

That is the Way of Life.

The Way of Death

5 . The Way of Death is this. To begin with, it is evil, and in every wayfraught with damnation. In it are murders, adulteries, lusts,fornications, thefts, idolatries, witchcraft, sorceries, robberies,perjuries, hypocrisies, duplicities, deceit, pride, malice, self-will,avarice, foul language, jealousy, insolence, arrogance, and boastfulness.Here are those who persecute good men, hold truth in abhorrence, and lovefalsehood; who do not know of the rewards of righteousness, nor adhere towhat is good, nor to just judgement; who lie awake planning wickednessrather than well- doing. Gentleness and patience are beyond theirconception; they care for nothing good or useful, and are bent only ontheir own advantage, without pity for the poor or feeling for thedistressed. Knowledge of their Creator is not in them; they make awaywith their infants and deface God's image; they turn away the needy andoppress the afflicted; they aid and abet the rich but arbitrarily condemnthe poor; they are utterly and altogether sunk in iniquity. Flee, mychildren, from all this!

Conclusion

6. Take care that nobody tempts you away from the path of this Teaching,for such a man's tuition can have nothing to do with God. If you canshoulder the Lord's yoke in its entirety, then you will be perfect; but ifthat is too much for you, do as much as you can.

As regards diet, keep the rules so far as you are able; only be careful torefuse anything that has been offered to an idol, for that is the worshipof dead gods.

PART 2. A CHURCH MANUAL

Of Baptism

7. The procedure for baptizing is as follows. After repeating all that hasbeen said, immerse in running water "In the Name of the Father, and of theSon, and of the Holy Ghost". If no running water is available, immerse inordinary water. This should be cold if possible; otherwise warm. Ifneither is practicable, then pour water three times on the head "In theName of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost". Both baptizerand baptized ought to fast before the baptism, as well as any others whocan do so; but the candidate himself should be told to keep a fast for aday or two beforehand.

Of Fast-Days and Prayer

8. Do not keep the same fast-days as the hypocrites. Mondays and Thursdaysare their days for fasting, so yours should be Wednesdays and Fridays.

Your prayers, too, should be different from theirs. Pray as the Lordenjoined in His Gospel, thus: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed bethy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, As in heaven, so on earth;Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debt as we forgiveour debtors, And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the EvilOne, For thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever.

Say this prayer three times every day.

Of the Eucharist

9. At the Eucharist, offer the eucharistic prayer in this way. Begin withthe chalice: "We give thanks to thee, our Father, for the holy Vine of thyservant David, which thou hast made known to us through thy servant Jesus.

"Glory be to thee, world without end ."

Then over the broken bread: "We give thanks to thee, our Father, for thelife and knowledge thou hast made known to us through thy servant Jesus."

"Glory be to thee, world without end ."

"As this broken bread, once dispersed over the hills, was brought togetherand became one loaf, so may thy Church be brought together from the endsof the earth into thy kingdom."

"Thine is the glory and the power, through Jesus Christ, for ever andever."

No one is to eat or drink of your Eucharist but those who have beenbaptized in the Name of the Lord; for the Lord's own saying applies here,"Give not that which is holy unto dogs."

10. When all have partaken sufficiently, give thanks in these words:

"Thanks be to thee, holy Father, for thy sacred Name which thou hastcaused to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith andimmortality which thou hast revealed to us through thy servant Jesus."

"Glory be to thee for ever and ever."

"Thou, O Almighty Lord, hast created all things for thine own Name's sake;to all men thou hast given meat and drink to enjoy, that they may givethanks to thee, but to us thou hast graciously given spiritual meat anddrink, together with life eternal, through thy Servant. Especially, andabove all, do we give thanks to thee for the mightiness of thy power."

"Glory be to thee for ever and ever."

"Be mindful of thy Church, O Lord; deliver it from all evil, perfect it inthy love, sanctify it, and gather it from the four winds into the kingdomwhich thou hast prepared for it."

"Thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever."

"Let Grace come, and this present world pass away."

"Hosanna to the God of David."

"Whosoever is holy, let him approach. Whoso is not, let him repent."

"Maranatha. Amen."

(Prophets, however, should be free to give thanks as they please.)

Of Apostles and Prophets

11. If anyone comes and instructs you on the foregoing lines, make himwelcome. But should the instructor himself then turn round and introduceteaching of a different and subversive nature, pay no attention to him. Ifit aims at promoting righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, though,welcome him as you would the Lord.

As regards apostles and prophets, according to the Gospel directions thisis how you are to act. Every apostle who comes to you should be welcomedas the Lord, but he is not to stay more than a day, or two days if it isreally necessary. If he stays for three days, he is a false prophet. Andan apostle at his departure should accept nothing but as much provisionsas will last him to his next night's lodging. If he asks for money, he isa false prophet.

While a prophet is uttering words in the spirit, you are on no account tosubject him to any tests or verifications; every sin shall be forgiven,but this sin shall not be forgiven. Nevertheless, not all who speak in thespirit are prophets, unless they also exhibit the manners and conduct ofthe Lord. It is by their behaviour that you can tell the impostor from thetrue. Thus, if a prophet should happen to call out for something to eatwhile he is in the spirit, he will not actually eat of it; if he does, heis a fraud. Also, even supposing a prophet is sound enough in histeaching, yet if his deeds do not correspond with his words he is animpostor. Or again, a prophet, thoroughly accredited and genuine, livingthe mystery of the Church in the world, may yet fail to teach others tocopy his example. In that case, you are not to judge the man yourselves;his judgement lies with God. The prophets of old used to do things of asimilar kind.

If any prophet, speaking in the spirit, says, "Give me money (or anythingelse)", do not listen to him. On the other hand, if he bids you give it tosomeone else who is in need, nobody should criticize him.

12. Everyone who comes "in the Name of the Lord" is to be made welcome,though later on you must test him and find out about him. You will be ableto distinguish the true from the false. If the newcomer is only passingthrough, give him all the help you can - though he is not to stay morethan a couple of days with you, or three if it is unavoidable. But if hewants to settle down among you, and is a skilled worker, let him findemployment and earn his bread. If he knows no trade, use your discretionto make sure that he does not live in idleness simply on the strength ofbeing a Christian. Unless he agrees to this, he is only trying to exploitChrist. You must be on your guard against men of that sort.

13. A genuine prophet, however, who wishes to make his home with you has aright to a livelihood. (Similarly, a genuine teacher is as much entitledto his keep as a manual labourer.) You are therefore to take the firstproducts of your winepress, your threshing-floor, your oxen and yoursheep, and give them as first- fruits to the prophets, for nowadays it isthey who are your "High Priests". If there is no prophet among you, givethem to the poor. And when you bake a batch of loaves, take the first ofthem and give it away, as the commandment directs. Similarly when youbroach a jar of wine or oil, take the first portion to give to theprophets. So, too, with your money, and your clothing, and all yourpossessions; take a tithe of them in whatever way you think best, and makea gift of it, as the commandment bids you.

Of Sunday Worship

14. Assemble on the Lord's Day, and break bread and offer the Eucharist;but first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be apure one. Anyone who has a difference with his fellow is not to take partwith you until they have been reconciled, so as to avoid any profanationof your sacrifice. For this is the offering of which the Lord has said,"Everywhere and always bring me a sacrifice that is undefiled, for I am agreat king, says the Lord, and my name is the wonder of nations."

Of Local Officials

15 . You must choose for yourselves bishops and deacons who are worthy ofthe Lord: men who are humble and not eager for money, but sincere andapproved; for they are carrying out the ministry of the prophets and theteachers for you. Do not esteem them lightly, for they take an honourablerank among you along with the prophets and teachers.

Reprove one another, but peaceably and not in hot blood, as you are toldin the Gospel. But have no converse with anyone who has done his neighbouran injury; let that man not hear a single word from you until he repents.

In your prayers, your almsgiving, and everything you do, be guided by whatyou read in the Gospel of our Lord.

Eschatology

16. Be watchful over your life; never let your lamps go out or your loinsbe ungirt, but keep yourselves always in readiness, for you can never besure of the hour when our Lord may be coming. Come often together forspiritual improvement; because all the past years of your faith will be nogood to you at the end, unless you have made yourselves perfect. In thelast days of the world false prophets and deceivers will abound, sheepwill be perverted and turn into wolves, and love will change to hate, forwith the growth of lawlessness men will begin to hate their fellows andpersecute them and betray them. Then the Deceiver of the World will showhimself, pretending to be a Son of God and doing signs and wonders, andthe earth will be delivered into his hands, and he will work suchwickedness as there has never been since the beginning. After that, allhumankind will come up for their fiery trial; multitudes of them willstumble and perish, but such as remain steadfast in the faith will besaved by the Curse. And then the signs of the truth will appear: first thesign of the opening heavens, next the sign of the trumpet's voice, andthirdly the rising of the dead - not of all the dead, but, as it says,"the Lord win come, and with him all his holy ones." And then the wholeworld will see the Lord as He comes riding on the clouds of heaven . . .

For futher inisght into the faith of the Twelve Apostles and the Early Church Fathers be dure to check out the resources below!

The Fathers of the Church - Who They Are and Why They Matter

If you are not familiar with the Fathers of the Early Church, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio, in this single, upbeat talk, full of examples and stories about some of the Church's most intriguing personalities. Marcellino D'Ambrosio explains who people are talking about when they refer to the "Fathers of the Church" or "Early Church Fathers. Though the ranks of the fathers include a tremendous variety of cultures, locales, and personalities, there is surprising consensus that emerges from them on a variety of the most important questions of our day. In this talk, Marcellino makes clear just how much these figures have to teach us today.